Many cities in Florida operate municipal golf courses. In recent years, tourism and the popularity of golf have fallen off, leading the golf courses to operate at a loss, often up to $1 million per year. Supporters of the golf courses note that the municipal courses are part of the cities’ Parks and Recreation departments which benefit the entire community, while others have criticized the local governments for injecting money into a business that should be funded primarily through user charges.
What are the accounting implications of operating the golf courses as part of the General Fund rather than an enterprise fund?
What are some other options you would suggest for the cities and what questions would be associated with those alternatives?
